This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

Legends Row to celebrate Mississauga's finest

Oscar Peterson and Paul Henderson among the first 10 residents to be honoured with markers in city's Celebration Square.

Late jazz pianist Oscar Peterson will be among the first 10 highly accomplished residents to be honoured in Mississauga's new version of the walk of fame, called Legends Row. (NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Hockey great Paul Henderson, seen here in a moment from Team Canada's 1972 Summit tournament against Russia, will be part of the initial group of inductees into Mississauga's Legends Row. (PETER BREGG / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Silken Laumann, shown showing off her bronze medal in singles rowing at the 1992 Olympics, is one of the Mississaugans to be honoured with a plaque at the city's new Legends Row.
(TONY BOCK / TORONTO STAR) | Order this photo

Canadian country musician Tommy Hunter will be honoured with induction into Mississauga's initial crop of famous residents inducted into the city's Legends Row. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Rock band Triumph will be inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row. From top to bottom: Mike Levine, Rik Emmett and Gil Moore.

Mississauga might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of celebrities, but the likes of the late Oscar Peterson, Paul Henderson and Johnny Bower all have roots there.

On Monday those names will be officially announced as part of the inaugural group cemented in time on Mississauga’s new Legends Row, celebrating the cities most accomplished residents.

“To think I’m going in on the same slate as Oscar Peterson, you’re not really sure you deserve it,” says Henderson, who has lived in Mississauga since 1970.

“And Johnny Bower, he didn’t make the NHL till he was 32. I don’t think he knows how great he was. What a humble guy.”

Both of the hockey legends will be part of a group of 10 inductees at a ceremony to be held Sept. 14. Others include Canadian rock band Triumph, country music star Tommy Hunter and Olympic medalist Silken Laumann.

Article Continued Below

The idea for Legends Row came from local businessman Ron Duquette, who thought Mississauga should celebrate the achievements of its residents.

“People don’t even know Oscar Peterson lived here for a long, long time. People know of Oscar all across the world, but even people in Mississauga didn’t know he lived here.”

“I had the idea (for Legends Row) several years ago, but I got very busy.”

After joining the management committee for Mississauga’s new Celebration Square, a multi-use event facility in the heart of downtown, Duquette said he had found the perfect place for Legends Row.

It will be temporarily housed in a corner of the square before its permanent location is ready and will feature a large totem with plaques honouring each inductee.

“We went to city council two years ago and they loved the idea. No money is coming from taxpayers; it’s all from the private sector and grants.”

Duquette says that, unlike similar features in other cities, Legends Row won’t just honour residents who have become household names. Categories will include equally impressive but less famous community builders and leaders, philanthropists and businesspeople, innovators and scientists.

But this year will mostly be about stars.

“We wanted to make a big splash the first year with 10 inductees. Usually there will be about five.”

Members of the public can go to the Legends Row website to help the selection committee with its choices, Duquette says.

Bower, the Leafs goalkeeping legend who won four Stanley Cups, including the team’s last in 1967, says he’s humbled by the honour.

“We’ve been living in Mississauga for 17 years now. Mississauga is home to me and my wife. This means a lot to us.”

The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please contact us or see our privacy policy for more information.

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com